Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Serum Hepatitis - Hepatitis B
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
- Diagnosis & Tests
- Prevention & Expectations
- Treatment & Monitoring
- Attribution
- View All
Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Hepatitis B is an infection and inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus. It is one of several types of hepatitis.
What is going on in the body?
The liver is an important organ located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen. It is responsible for:
Infection of the liver by a virus can cause hepatitis, which is a term that means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis can interfere with normal liver functions. Symptoms of hepatitis B, one of several viruses that can cause hepatitis, can quickly appear. This is called acute hepatitis. Symptoms of infection with the virus can also develop slowly and last a long time. This is called chronic hepatitis. Hepatitis B virus infections can range from mild to severe.
The hepatitis B virus is transmitted through the blood. After entering the bloodstream, the virus invades the liver cells. It reproduces there and can kill liver cells directly. Many of the symptoms of the disease, including liver inflammation, are caused by the body's immune system reacting to infection with the virus.
What are the causes and risks of the infection?
Hepatitis B is spread through exposure to infected blood and by sexual intercourse. People at risk include those who: